An account in Gloucester, Massachusetts

I, Epes Ellery, of Gloucester, in the County of Essex, Ship master, depose and say; that on the 14th day of August, 1817, I saw a sea animal that I thought to be a serpent, in the harbour in said Gloucester. I was on an eminence, near low water mark, and about thirty feet above the level of the sea, when I saw him. I should judge that he was about one hundred and fifty fathoms from me. I saw the upper part of his head, and I should say about forty feet of the animal. Pie appeared to me to have joints, about the size of a two-gallon keg. I was looking at him with a spy-glass, when I saw him open his mouth, and his mouth appeared like that of the serpent; the top of his head appeared flat. His motion when he turned was quick, but I will not express an opinion of his velocity. The first part of the curve that he made in turning was of the form of a staple, and as he approached towards his tail, he came near his body with his head, and then ran parallel with his tail, and his head and tail then appeared near together. Q. -\t what time of the day did you see him ? A. It was a little after sun set. ,3 1 14 ) \ t Q. What parts of it were above the surface of the water, and how high ? A. I did not count the number of bunches, but they appeared about six inches above the surface of the water. Q. Were its sinuosities vertical or horizontal ? A. Vertical. Q. Did it appear to pursue, avoid, or notice any thing ? A. It did not appear to avoid any thing. He appeared to be amusing himself, though there were several boats not far from him. Q. Did you see more than one? A. I did not. < 2 - How many persons saw it ? A. There were fifteen or twenty persons, near where I was. EPES ELLERY. Essex ss, August 25, 1817.